Lift cylinder yoke bearing installer for a bulldozer and method of installation

Abstract

A system and method that includes a device that is used in a particular method to install bearings into a lift cylinder yoke bore. The device includes use of a hollow bore hydraulic push cylinder that maneuvers a push plate along a threaded rod. The push plate sinks or sets into the bearing and applies pressure through the movement of the hydraulic push cylinder to place the bearing into a fit position without the abrasion that is usually associated with the installation of bearings into the lift cylinder yoke bore. The threaded rod attaches to a threaded bushing that is inserted into the bore and secured with the use of a pin. The threaded rod extends out of the bore opening and allows for the attachment of a bearing, push plate, hydraulic push cylinder, washer and nut.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of installing bearings into a lift cylinder yoke bore comprising the steps of:
 a. attaching a threaded rod onto a threaded bushing; 
 b. inserting the threaded rod attached to the threaded bushing into the lift cylinder yoke bore; 
 c. inserting a pin into an opening in the threaded bearing, after removing a yoke keeper pin from the opening, and securing the pin in place within a distal end of the lift cylinder yoke bore; 
 d. inserting a first bearing onto the threaded rod, where the first bearing has a first diameter; 
 e. attaching a first push plate to the threaded rod; 
 f. attaching a hydraulic push cylinder behind the first push plate onto the threaded rod; 
 g. connecting a washer and a nut to the threaded rod; 
 h. activating the hydraulic push cylinder to push the first push plate and the first bearing along the threaded rod; 
 i. continuing to push the first push plate into the first bearing until the first bearing is seated into the bore; 
 j. removing the nut, washer, hydraulic push cylinder, and first push plate from the threaded rod; 
 k. placing a second bearing over the threaded rod where the second bearing has a second diameter; 
 l. placing a second push plate onto the threaded rod; 
 m. re-attaching the hydraulic push cylinder, washer and nut; 
 n. pushing the second push plate along the threaded rod by activating the hydraulic push cylinder until the second bearing is seated into the lift cylinder yoke bore; 
 o. removing the nut, washer, hydraulic push cylinder, and second push plate from the threaded rod; and 
 p. pulling the pin from a side of lift cylinder yoke bore and removing the threaded rod with threaded bushing attached. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of installing bearings into a bore according to  claim 1 , where the first diameter is less than the second diameter. 
     
     
       3. The method of installing bearings into a bore according to  claim 1 , wherein the threaded rod is a high grade all thread material.